Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has announced a key milestone in the delivery of Programme for Government commitments on the Irish language and Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture.
Minister Ní Chuilín has today (9 July 2012 ) issued separate public consultations on strategies for protecting and enhancing the development of the Irish language, and for enhancing and developing the Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture. Both consultations will begin on Wednesday 11 July 2012 and will last for twenty weeks.
The Minister said: “I am committed to a full and meaningful consultation process for both strategies. I am determined to ensure everyone has the opportunity to shape the content of both the Irish language strategy, and the strategy for the Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture.
“Meaningful public consultation on these strategies underlines my Department’s commitment to inclusiveness in delivering on statutory duties to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language, and enhance and develop Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture.
“In order to ensure people don’t miss the opportunity to respond over the holiday period I have extended the recommended twelve week consultation period to twenty weeks.
“Both strategies seek to promote the Irish language, and Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture, in a positive and progressive way.”
Both Strategies are commitments in the Executive’s agreed Programme for Government 2011-15. The Executive’s commitment to develop these Strategies is a key aspect of delivering against the Executive’s Priority 4 – ‘Building a Strong and Shared Community’.
